Underage drinking permitted by Marines

Here’s one that’s going to get a whole bunch of people in a tizzie. The Corps has come out with a new policy permitting drinking for underage Marines in certain circumstances.
My personal opinion is thanks that someone finally has the stones to say that someone old enough to give his/her life for their country is RESPONSIBLE enough to have a legal beverage. I haven’t seen all of the particulars as yet but assume that this policy is applied “on base” so that it doesn’t go against state laws. I could never get comfortable with the idea that an 18-21 year old could risk their life AND VOTE but was not capable of handling alcohol.
We give out the benefits of our nation too easily (social benefits to illegal aliens; citizenship to anyone born on US soil, etc.). On the other hand, we consistently abuse those who live by..."not what your country can do for you but for what you can do for your country".